Switch mechanism for coin selectors of the gravity-feed type



FEED TYPE Sept. 8, 1953 w. J. SUMMERS SWITCH MECHANISM FOR COIN SELECTORS OF THE GRAVITY Filed Sept. 15, 1951 4 2 Sheets-Sheet l ZNVENTG. Mm ffy BY z y fi rzzem Sept. 8, 1953 w. J. SUMMERS SWITCH MECHANISM FOR COIN SELECTORS OF THE GRAVITY-FEED TYPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15, 1951 m w ./r f 6 M m? "M n. m

Patented Sept. 8, 1953 SWITCH MECHANISM FOR COIN SELECTORS OF THE GRAVITY-FEED TYPE William J. Summers, Chicago, 111., assignor to General Patent Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 15, 1951, Serial No. 246,857

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to switch mechanisms for coin selectors.

The invention is especially adapted for use with coin selectors employed in coin-controlled electrically operated vending machines. Too frequently such machines are surreptitiously operated by one violently striking against a side of the machine or violently shaking the same so that the contacts of the control switch are brought into engagement, with the result that the circuit of the machine is energized for vending operation without deposit of a coin. It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a switch constructed in a manner such that the contacts thereof cannot be brought into engagement with each other by vibrating, shaking or violently striking the machine with the viewpoint of bringing such contacts into engagement with each other without the use of a proper coin.

Another and equally important object of the invention is the provision of an improved construction of the character hereinafter described, which will be highly efiicient in use and economical in manufacture.

Another and equally important object of the invention is the provision of a switch mechanism of the character hereinafter described which is simple and compact in construction and of a size which will occupy a minimum of space when mounted upon or associated with a coin selector.

Another and equally important object of the invention is the provision of a switch construction of this character which comprises relatively few parts, permitting convenient and economical assembly as well as installation in its association with the coin selector.

Another and equally important object of the invention is to provide a switch construction for the purposes hereinafter set forth, the parts of which are assembled together in a manner such as to provide a switch construction which will be durable and capable of long and substantial use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mounting panel or door upon which is mounted a coin selector having associated therewith my improved switch construction;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view taken substantially .1. ine 2 of g- Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 7-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the parts of the switch construction shown in exploded relation with respect to each other.

My improved switch construction is preferably associated with a coin selector of the gravity feed type, and for the purposes of illustration I have shown my improved switch construction associated with a coin selector shown and described in my United States Patent 2,532,205, dated November 28, 1950. In this connection, a mounting panel or door with which the coin selector is adapted to be associated is indicated at I. This mounting panel [0 is provided at its upper end portion with an opening H which accommodates adjacent portions of the coin selector indicated generally at l2. This opening is closed by an escutoheon plate l3 secured in any suitable manner, as by means of bolts I 4, to the mounting panel Hi. This escutcheon plate I3 is provided with an elongated slot l5 constituting a coin entrance slot, and such slot is of a length and width to permit passage therethrough only of a coin of no greater than the proper and required diameter and width. To facilitate guiding the coin from the passage through the opening l5 there is provided a guide plate [6 having a shelf [1 on which the coin is mounted edgewise with the side thereof in flat contact with the vertical wall 18 of the guide plate IS.

The coin selector comprises a side wall [9 of substantially triangular formation in side elevation and provided at its upper and lower edges with inwardly turned flanges 20 and 2 I.

Secured in spaced relation with respect to the side wall l 9 and of like formation, is a removable side wall 22 having flange portions 23 overlapping the flanges 20 and 2| and joined together by an end flange 24. In the top flange of the flanges 23 there is provided an open slot 25 adapted to receive the shank 26 of a thumb screw 21, the latter serving to removably attach the side wall 22 in spaced relation to the wall I9 when the shank 25 is threaded into a threaded opening formed in the flange 20. The two side walls [9 and 20, when secured together in the manner shown in Q4 Fig. l of the drawings, provides an enclosure for various coin pathways. This enclosure when attached to the panel is is supported in a tilted. position with respect to a vertical plane as shown in Fig. 1.

One of such pathways is indicated at 28. This pathway is the coin receiving pathway, receiving the coin as it passes through the slot iii. This pathway 28 includes a track bar 2Q formed substantially rectangular in cross section and secured to the inner surface of the wall is in a predetermined position beneath an offset portion or recess The end 3i of this recess 3@ terminates into an abutment 32. This abutment 32 functions to deflect a coin of a diameter less than the required diameter from the coin receiving pathway into the rejection pathway.

This rejection pathway, which is indicated at R, includes the flange 25 which provides a track for the rejected coins. This track is inclined in a direction toward outlet slot formed in the mounting panel it. The wall at the inner end portion of the receiving pathway it provides a rectangular opening which cornmunicates with acceptance pathway 3% pro vided by a plate 37 secured to the side wall 55 in spaced relation with respect thereto by of screws 38. A bar til which separates the plate 3? from the wall iii provides a track id for the accepted coins. This bar terminates short or" end ii of the plate st to provide an acceptance slot 4 2 through which the accepted coins out of the selector into a suitable collector box or container (not shown).

The distance between the track edge 29 of the track 29 and the top edge 13d of the offset portion 39 is less than the diameter of a proper coin acceptable for the actuation of the control. switch embodying my present invention. This distance, however, is greater than the diameter of a coin having a diameter less than that of such proper coin. Consequently, an improper coin of a diameter of less than that or the proper coin will, by reason of the diagonal position of the selector with respect to a vertical line through the panel, be caused to tilt against the side wall ii) and be projected into the offset recess (it, with the result that such improper coin will strike the abutment 32 and be deflected in a direction away "from the side wall E8 on" track bar 22 into the rejection pathway R and from thence through the return slot 3-3.

A triangularly shaped shield 3-6 covers a portion of the opening 335 and functions to direct the acceptable coins into the acceptance pathway 36.

It is with such a coin selector that I associate my improved switch construction which will now be described.

In this connection, I provide an enclosure generally indicated at This enclosure com prises a ring-like body d5 having peripheral flanges it and ll. Positioned within the peripheral flanges it and i? are side plates as and d9. Each of these side plates has a pair of oppositely disposed notches 5%] formed therein which are of elongated formation and into which are adapted to project lateral pins 5! carried by the side walls 52 of the ring The side plates 1-53 and 5-9 are provided with openings 53 which register with openings 5d formed in the ring id and through which openings are projected bolts for attaching the side plates :33 and as to the ring 65. These bolts are threaded into tapped holes 56 formed in the wall is of the enclosure 92. By this arrangement, I utilize the same bolts for attaching the switch enclosure to the wall 59 as are used for attaching the side plates to the ring 45. The switch enclosure may be spaced from the wall 59 by short sleeves iii.

Each of the plates 48 and 69 has secured th to, as by means of rivets 59, a substantially s circular contact finger 58, the corresponding ends of which fingers are flexed as at til to bear against a disc 6! of non-conductive material. The opposite ends of the contact fingers Edi seat in notches iii formed in the ring Q5. The finger; 58 are of similar shape and construction and each provides tails 82 to which connecting or circuit wires may be connected by means of solder or the like. The portions lit of the ringers 5% are flexed toward each other and carry contact heads 63 at their outer end portions, which contact heads wipe against the adjacent surface 6 5 of the disc 64 for contact with a contact pin 55 extending transversely through the disc (ii. This disc ti is mounted upon a shaft ends of which are journalled in the openings d? formed in the side plates 43 and M1.

The ring 45 in one of its side walls 52 has formed therein a channel 68 to accommodate a spring 69. A portion of the inside wall or this channel is cut away to provide a slot ii through which projects a finger 12 having an angled end portion it which projects into the adjacent end of the spring 59, the opposite end it of the spring is bearing against the wall i5 of the channel 68.

One end 16 of the shaft 66 carries an actuating arm ll! having an angled end portion it; which extends into the path of coins descending the ac ceptance pathway whereby the top of the coins as they descend the pathway will engage the angled end portion 78 to move the arm "il a direction to rotate the shaft 6t and the disc ti carried thereby a sufficient distance to bring the contact pin 65 into contact with the contact heads 63 whereby to complete a circuit connection between the contact fingers 53.

It is intended that the diameter of the pins a l be such as to result in a snap fit with the plates 68 and 59 when these pins are inserted in the slots 58. Such an arrangement provides a frictional connection between the plates and the ring, pending permanent connection of the plates to the ring by the bolts 55.

By the provision of the finger '02 on the disc and projecting the same into the channel 88 through the slot II, this finger cooperates with the wall ill of the channel to limit the rotation of the disc 6! against the spring dd by action. of the actuating finger H. By such an merit the contact pin or stud as is likewise positively located in contact with the contact heads 63 whenever the disc 6! has been rotated the action of the spring to its extreme posion. This finger also coacts with the body to li nit the rotation of the disc by the action of the spring 69.

By providing the channel 68 in the ring for the spring 69, the spring can be conveniently mounted in place with its end portion connected to the finger H2 in the manner herein described and shown in the drawings. The plates t8 and ring at, like the disc 6!, are formed of non-conductive material.

From the foregoing description, it will be clear that I provide a switch, the contacts of which cannot be brought into engagement except by movement of the actuating finger W by engagement with a coin and that no amount of shaking or vibration of the switch will close such contacts. It is also clear that I provide a switch which is relatively simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and one which can be assembled with the minimum degree of labor.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departin from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A switch construction for the purposes herein described comprising an enclosure including a ring-shaped body and side plates on opposite sides of said body, said side plates each having opposed elongated open slots formed therein and said body having laterally extending pins for frictional engagement in said slots, a disc rotatably arranged in said body, a shaft extending transversely of said body and having its ends journalled in said side plates and rotatably supporting said disc within said body, said body provided with notches formed on opposite peripheral edges thereof in confronting relation with respect to each other, a contact stud extending transversely through said disc at one side of said shaft, contact fingers carried by said side plates on opposite sides of said disc and in confronting relation to each other with corresponding end portions in the path of said contact studs and having their opposite free end portion extending through said notches formed in said body, spring means arranged in said body and having one end bearing against said body and an opposite end connected to said disc, for normally urging said disc to a position with the contact stud spaced from said contact finger, and an actuating arm carried by said shaft and effective to rotate said disc against said spring means when engaged by a moving object.

2. A switch construction for the purposes herein described comprising an enclosure including a ring-shaped body and side plates on opposite sides of said body, a disc rotatably arranged in said body, a shaft extending transversely of said body and having its ends journaled in said side plates and rotatably supporting said disc within said body, said body provided with notches formed on opposite peripheral edges thereof in confronting relation with respect to each other, a contact stud extending transversely through said disc at one side of said shaft, contact fingers carried by said side plates on opposite sides of said disc and in confronting relation to each other with corresponding end portions in the path of said contact stud and having their opposite free end portion extending through said notches formed in said body, spring means arranged in said body with one end bearing against said body and an opposite end connected to said disc for normally urging said disc to a position with the contact stud spaced from said contact fingers, and an actuating arm carried by said shaft exterior of said enclosure and effective when struck by an object to rotate said disc against said spring means, said ring-shaped body having a channel in which said spring means is positioned.

3. A switch construction for the purposes herein described comprising an enclosure including a ring-shaped body and side plates on opposite sides of said body, said side plates each having opposed elongated open slots formed therein and said body having laterally extending pins for frictional engagement in said slots, a disc rotatably arranged in said body, a shaft extending transversely of said body and having its ends journalled in said side plates and rotatably supporting said disc within said body, said body provided with notches formed on opposite peripheral edges thereof in confronting relation with respect to each other, contact fingers carried by said side plates on opposite sides of said disc and in confronting relation to each other and having a free end portion extending through said notches formed in said body, a contact stud extending transversely through said disc for engagement with said fingers, spring means arranged in said body having one end bearing against said body and an opposite end connected to said disc, for normally urging said disc to a position with the contact stud from engagement with said contact fingers, and an actuating arm carried by said shaft exterior of said enclosure and effective when struck by a body to rotate said disc against said spring means, said ring shaped body having a channel in which said spring means is positioned.

4. A switch construction for the purposes herein described comprising an enclosure in cluding a ring-shaped body and side plates on opposite sides of said body, a disc rotatably arranged in said body, a shaft extending transversely of said body and having its ends journaled in said side plates and rotatably supporting said disc within said body, said body provided with notches formed on opposite peripheral edges thereof in confronting relation with respect to each other, contact fingers carried by said side plates on opposite sides of said disc and in cOnfronting relation to each other and having a free end portion extending through said notches formed in said body, a contact stud extending transversely through said disc for engagement "with said fingers, spring means arranged in said body having one end bearing against said body and an opposite end connected to said disc for normally urging said disc to a position with the contact stud from engagement with said contact fingers, and an actuating arm carried by said shaft exterior of said enclosure and effective when struck by an object to rotate said disc against said spring means, said ring-shaped body having a channel in which said spring means is positioned, a wall of said channel providing an opening and said disc having a finger extending through said opening and cooperating with said wall to limit rotation of said disc by said actuating finger to position the contact stud in engagement with the contact fingers.

5. A switch construction for the purposes herein described comprising an enclosure including a ring-shaped body and side plates on opposite sides of said body and spaced apart from said side plates, a disc rotatably arranged in said body, a shaft extending transversely of said body and having its ends journaled in said side plates and rotatably supporting said disc within said body, contact fingers carried by said side plates on opposite sides of said disc and in confronting relation to each other, said fingers having corresponding ends fiexed in a direction for frictional engagement with the opposite sides of said disc,

a contact stud extending transversely through said disc for engagement with said fingers, said disc having a radially extending finger providing an angled end portion bent in the direction or" rotation of said disc, spring means arranged in said body having one end bearing against said body and an opposite end connected to said angled end portion of said finger for normally urg ing said disc to a position with the contact stud from engagement with said contact fingers, and an actuating arm carried by said shaft exterior of said enclosure and efiective when struck by an object to rotate said disc against said spring means.

6. A switch construction for the purposes herein described comprising an enclosure including a ring-shaped body and side plates on opposite sides of said body and spaced apart from said side plates, a disc rotatably arranged in said body, a shaft extending transversely of said body and having its ends journaled in said side plates and rotatably supporting said disc Within said body, contact fingers carried by said side plates on opposite sides of said disc and in confronting relation to each other, said fingers having corresponding ends flexed in a direction for frictional. engagement with the opposite sides of said disc, a contact stud extending transversely through said disc for engagement with said fingers, said disc having a radially extending finger providing an angled end portion bent in the direction of rotation of said disc, spring means arranged in said body having one end bearing against said body and an opposite end connected to said angled end portion of said finger for normally urging said disc to a position with the contact stud from engagement with said contact fingers, and an actuating arm carried by said shaft exterior of said enclosure and effective when struck by an object to rotate said disc against said spring means, said ring-shaped body having a channel in which said spring means is positioned and into which the angled end portion of said finger is adapted to project when said disc is rotated against said spring.

7. A switch construction for the purposes herein described comprising an enclosure including a ring-shaped body and side plates on opposite sides of said body and spaced apart from said side plates, a disc rotatably arranged in said body, a shaft extending transversely of said body and having its ends journaled in said side plates and rotatably supporting said disc within said body, contact fingers carried by said side plates on opposite sides of said disc and in confrontin relation to each other, said fingers having corresponding ends flexed in a direction for frictional engagement with the opposite sides of said disc, a contact stud extending transversely through said disc for engagement with said fingers, said disc having a radially extending finger providing an angled end portion bent in the direction of rotation of said disc, spring means arranged in said body having one end bearing against said body and an opposite end connected to said angled end portion of said finger for normally urging said disc to a position with the contact stud from engagement with said contact fingers, and an actuating arm carried by said shaft exterior of said enclosure and effective when struck by an object to rotate said disc against said spring means, said ring-shaped body having a channel in which said spring means is positioned, a wall of said channel providing an opening and said angled end portion of said finger extending through said opening and cooperating with said wall to limit rotation of said disc by said actuating finger to position the contact stud in engagement with the contact fingers.

WILLIAM J. SUMMERS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 935,150 Hamlin Sept. 28, 1909 1,127,808 Reynolds Feb. 9, 1915 2,172,927 Andeen Sept. 12, 1939 2,453,161 Schleicher Nov. 9, 1948 2,588,632 Jeffrey Mar. 11, 1952 

